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The benefit of a fan circulating air in your indoor garden is that it prevents several diseases known as

Damping Off, here is a quote from another site defining/explaining them,,,,,,,,,,,,



The single term used to describe underground, soil line, or crown rots of seedlings due to unknown
causes is damping-off . The term actually covers several soil borne diseases of plants and seed borne
fungi.
Rhizoctonia root rot (Rhizoctonia solani) is a fungal disease which causes damping-off of seedlings and
foot rot of cuttings. Infection occurs in warm to hot temperatures and moderate moisture levels. The
fungi is found in all natural soils and can survive indefinitely. Infected plants often have slightly
sunken lesions on the stem at or below the soil line. Transfer of the fungi to the germination room or
greenhouse is easily accomplished by using outdoor gardening tools inside or vice versa. The
germination room should not be used for mixing potting soils or transplanting seedlings as a general
rule.
Pythium Root Rot (Pythium spp.) is similar to Rhizoctonia in that it causes damping-off of seedlings
and foot rot of cuttings. However, infection occurs in cool, wet, poorly-drained soils, and by
overwatering. Infection results in wet odorless rots. When severe, the lower portion of the stem can
become slimy and black. Usually, the soft to slimy rotted outer portion of the root can be easily
separated from the inner core. Species of Pythium can survive for several years in soil and plant
refuse.
Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora spp.) are usually associated with root rots of established plants
but are also involved in damping-off. These species enter the root tips and cause a water-soaked
brown to black rot similar to Pythium. These fungi survive indefinitely in soil and plant debris.
Black root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola) is a problem of established plants. It does not occur in strongly
acid soils with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. It usually infects the lateral roots where they just emerge from the
taproot. The diseased area turns dark brown, and is quite dry. The fungi survive for 10 years or more
in soil.
Miscellaneous fungi causing similar symptoms include Sclerotinia (white mold), Sclerotium rolfsii,
Macrophomina phaseoli, some species of Botrytis (gray mold), Aphonomyces, Fusarium,
Cylindrocladium, and others. Hence the need for the collective term known as damping-off. Symptoms
of Damping-off:


Seeds may be infected as soon as moisture penetrates the seed coat or a bit later as the radicle
begins to extend, all of which rot immediately under the soil surface (pre-emergence damping-off).
This condition results in a poor, uneven stand of seedlings, often confused with low seed viability.
Cotyledons may break the soil surface only to whither and die or healthy looking seedlings may
suddenly fall over (post-emergence damping-off). Infection results in lesions at or below the soil line.
The seedling will discolor or wilt suddenly, or simply collapse and die. Weak seedlings are especially
susceptible to attack by one or more fungi when growing conditions are only slightly unfavorable.
Damping-off is easily confused with plant injury caused by insect feeding, excessive fertilization, high
levels of soluble salts, excessive heat or cold, excessive or insufficient soil moisture, or chemical
toxicity in air or soil.
Above ground symptoms of root rot include stunting, low vigor, or wilting on a warm day. Foliage of
such plants may yellow and fall prematurely starting with the oldest leaves. The roots of a diseased
plant will have some shade of brown or black and evidence of water-soaking. Healthy roots are fibrous
appearing and are usually white or tan in color. These symptoms are easily confused with severe mite,
aphid, scale infestations, or root-feeding by nematodes or insect larvae. Environmental factors such as
accumulated salts in the soil, insufficient light or nitrogen, potbound roots, cold drafts, etc. can be
eliminated only by examination of the roots. Damping-off diseases can be prevented:

Purchase disease free plants and seeds. Know your supplier. Do not be afraid of fungicidal coatings
on seeds which will be direct sown out doors in cold soils, such as corn and peas. Seed borne disease
can also be avoided by soaking the seeds for 15 minutes in a bleach soak (one teaspoon per quart of
water) prior to sowing.
Use sterile well drained soil mediums. See article on soil mixes. Try to maintain a soil mix pH at the
low end of the average scale, i.e. 6.4 pH is less susceptible to root rot than a pH of 7.5. Commercially
prepared germination mixes usually have a pH around 5.5. As you water the seed pots and your
seedlings with tap water (which in many municipalities is quite alkaline), the pH in your pots gradually
increases as does the susceptibility to damping-off diseases. Know the pH of your tap water, and
condition it if necessary to maintain a lower pH while the plants are still in the germination room. I
prefer the use of vinegar at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon of water.
Plants must not have their crowns below the soil line. Seeds must not be covered more than 4 times
the thickness of the seed.
Use plant containers with drainage holes, water from the bottom only, and avoid excess watering. Do
not allow pots to stand in water as excess water cannot drain and the roots will be starved for oxygen
bringing all growth to a halt.
Avoid overcrowding and overfeeding of plants. It is important to maintain constant levels of growth
through proper lighting and complete control of the growing environment.
Avoid working with plants (taking cuttings or transplanting) when the soil is wet. Do not use water
from ditches or drainage ponds or rain barrels in the germination room.
Avoid spreading soil from infested areas or tools which have been used out of doors. Disinfect tools
and containers with one part bleach in four parts water or with 70 percent rubbing alcohol (isopropyl).
In the germination room, sow all your seeds on the surface of the media, then cover the seeds to
necessary depth with a material which is less likely to harbor fungi than the media itself. Use one or
more of the following seed toppings instead of soil mix:
milled sphagnum moss
chick grit
course sand or fine aquarium gravel
composted hardwood bark (steamed)
In the germination room, mist seedlings in communal pots or flats once or twice per day with water
containing a known anti-fungal agent such as:
Captan (or other approved fungicide) especially if walls or floors are damp, or
Cheshunt compound, a copper/aluminum formulation, or
chamomile tea, or
clove tea, or
a one-time light dusting of powdered cinnamon on the soil surface, or
a one-time light dusting of powdered charcoal on the soil surface, or
if stinging nettle is endemic in your area, make a fermented infusion to use like clove tea. These last
five actions are suggested by sufficient anecdotal evidence to prove the existence of a low level of
fungicidal activity. I would not hesitate to use them in germination environments which have no
history of damping-off diseases.
Rotate plantings on a 2 to 3 year schedule using plants from different families in order to starve out
existing pathogens.
Provide constant air movement not tied in with the light timer. Air should move freely 24 hours per
day, but not directly aimed at the plants. This helps the seedlings to aspirate, and excess soil moisture
to wick. If you do everything else right but do not provide plenty of air movement, you will
still get damping-off.Now I couldn't say it any better than that and there is yet another benefit of
the top layer of soil being dried by air circulation it will show you whether or not there is salt building
up in your soil the edges will have a white or yellowish dried powder look to them If this happens do
not water or flush but rather remove the top 1/4 inch layer of soil and discard it without replacing it,
we do not want those dried salts going deeper into the soil.

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